Tempered Vs Non-Tempered Glass - What's The Difference?

Whether you are buying glass for replacing windows, for a new glass table top, or for a shower stall, you are bound to come across the option of tempered or non-tempered glass. So what does that mean anyway? The differences between tempered and non-tempered glass are great and can mean the difference between a safe piece of furniture or home project and an unsafe one.

In the most basic sense, tempered glass is glass that has been treated to be four to five times stronger than untreated glass. This type of glass is used when the possibility of human contact is high. Tempered glass goes through a whole different process than non-tempered glass.

Specifically, tempered glass is cut to shape before it is treated. This is because, once treated, tempered glass cannot be cut or it will shatter into thousands of little pieces. This is the nature of tempered glass and it is a safety feature that makes it so popular. After the glass is cut to size, the edges are belt seamed or sanded to remove any jagged or sharp bits. Then, the glass slab is washed to remove any debris that may be left over. Finally, the glass is heated to almost 1200 degrees Fahrenheit and immediately cooled. This is what gives the glass its tempered effect.

A piece of tempered glass will be just as smooth and as clear as a non-tempered piece of glass, it will simply be treated with heat as described and stronger. Sometimes tempered glass will look or feel rough. This is common among poor quality tempered glass and is due to insufficient washing of debris from the sanding step. All glass that has been tempered correctly will be as smooth and as clear as untreated glass. In fact, the only way to tell tempered glass will be to look for the mandatory tempered glass stamp applied to each piece of tempered glass.

So why bother going through the trouble of heating and cooling glass? Because treated glass is much stronger and safer than non-tempered glass. Any glass that will be in human contact should be tempered. This includes windows, doors, shower enclosures, glass table tops and desks. When tempered glass is broken, it cracks into thousands of pieces rather than breaking into sharp jagged edges that can harm. Of course, this makes for a much more difficult clean up, but it is worth it for the safety component.

Nowadays it is almost impossible to buy non-tempered glass for home use. But it is still important to check for tempering in any glass that you purchase that is prone to come in contact with humans or animals. Never try to work with untreated glass unless you have been schooled on the nature of glass and are fully prepared for breakage. Knowing the difference between how tempered and non-tempered glass acts can mean the difference between danger and safety.

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Tempered Glass: Cleaning And Testing

Tempered Glass is a type of glass that is made stronger by chemical techniques which also render it safer than the normal glass. Normal glass breaks up in to dangerous little pieces which may cause harm in many ways. This type of glass is especially used where human contact prevails, like doors, car windshields. This glass, though tough has special cleaning methods, which if not practiced, may scratch/deform the glass. Here are the ways to clean and test the glass.

Cleaning:

Cleaning a tempered glass requires care because though tough, it scratches very easily if abrasive material is used for cleaning. Here are listed steps to clean it effectively. 

First of all, check whether the solution used is not harmful for the glass by applying the mixture on a corner of the material. We should never use hard materials in scrubbing it. This puts unwanted scratches on it. Always use dish soap and water for the solution. Mix equal quantities of the ingredients and spray them on the surface. Give the mixture sometime to settle down on the glass and mix with the dust. This makes it easy for the scrubbing and effectively takes off the stains. Use a very soft pad for scrubbing the glass, for even a nylon pad with abrasion can cause scratches. Spray on stubborn areas twice or thrice to make the stain go away. Never use Teflon or other metallic pads to wipe the surface.

Testing:

Tempered Glass is not easy to differentiate from the normal kind because it looks no different than the normal one. Tempered Glass is made in such a way so as to make it five times stronger than the normal ones. Doors, windshields and similar places where human contact is high are fitted with Tempered Glass. Adding to its features, this glass is designed to break up into oval pieces which are much less harmful than the normal type which breaks up into little edgy pieces. To check it, we should follow these steps.

We can check the hardened patterns by testing it under the sunlight, while wearing sunglasses. The hardened pattern is not uniform throughout the material. The easiest test is to feel the glass carefully. If we experience the glass to be a little rough, then we can say to some degree that it's tempered. Tempered glass appears to be a slightly bent if observed closely. This occurs because of the hardening by heat. There should not be chipping or cracking. If so, it would break if it is a Tempered Glass. Some types come with an etching in the corner stating that it is tempered. This is a satisfactory sign for it.

We are glass contractors that supply and install all glass wall and partitioning for your office, home, factory and shop needs. Pls Call 012-2988560.

What Is Tempered Glass?

Tempered glass is about four to five times stronger than regular glass because it goes though a controlled heating process. The process involves extreme heating of the glass in a tempering oven, followed by a rapid cooling to produce a hard outer layer. This type of glass is known by many different names, including safety, heat-treated, and thermal glass.

Why Is Tempering Used?

Heat-treated glass is safer than standard types because it has been through a tempering process to increase its strength. The controlled thermal treatment produces a product that is more scratch-resistant and less likely to break or crack. Even if tempered glass does break, it shatters into small pieces when broken, not dangerous shards that can cause serious injury. However, if one small piece of tempered glass cracks or breaks, the entire sheet will crumble at once.

Because tempered glass is safer than regular types, it is ideal for use in car windows, shower and tub enclosures, doors, storefronts, display cases, and tabletops. Heat-treated glass is used in motor vehicles to avoid harm to passengers in case of a collision; it is used for shower doors, tub enclosures, skylights, and any frameless door enclosure; it is also well suited for shelves, tables, and display cases that will carry heavy objects.

Tempered glass is often used in several kitchen devices, including carafes, coffee pots, oven windows, and refrigerator shelves. It is also used in eyewear and computer screens.

Limitations of Tempering

While tempered glass is safer than other types, it does have its disadvantages. All glass must be cut to size, shaped, polished, and holes drilled prior to the heat-treating process.

Benefits of Tempered Products

This type of glass is stronger and safer than other products, and it has grown in popularity in past years. If you are considering remodeling your home with new windows, skylights, shower doors, or other glass products, speak to a local contractor about the benefits of tempering.

We are glass contractors that supply and install all glass wall and partitioning for your office, home, factory and shop needs in Selangor.